‘Now other places know how we feel’ was the message of one local resident as the people of St Ann's reacted to news of wider shops and business closures in the Nottingham city area.
St Ann’s residents have previously called for more facilities in their neighbourhood, with many desperate for a new chippy, butchers, pub, café, salon, branded supermarket and more retail options after the area was left with limited options,
St Ann’s has a Caribbean takeaway, charity shop, corner shops, a Heron Food store and more but still, residents feel like the area has ‘nothing’ and no high street. With people travelling to other areas of Nottingham to go to more sociable spots like a pub. Many local residents said they would prefer it if they could have what other areas have on their doorstep.
It comes after Nottinghamshire reported on there being a total of 93 empty units in the city centre and with the city getting no Level Up Funding, people have voiced their concerns and disappointment.
Jen Hibbert, 34 is a cleaner. Jen has lived in St Ann’s for nine years. She said: “Shops are closing down and I feel for the owner’s especially if they’re a local independent but now other places know how we feel. I go to Mapperley to the butcher’s, I get my hair done in town. There’s all these reports of places in Nottingham turning into a ghost town - look how long St Ann’s has been struggling!”
Jen continued: “I remember when people were really upset about the Aldi on Huntingdon Street closing down and then IC Discounts went and the café on Wells Road is gone. The area hasn’t had a pub for years too.
“Luckily, I can travel and get out and about but I’m guessing for the elderly and disabled, it can be isolating not having somewhere to go for a £2 cup of tea.”
Neil Smith, 63 is now retired. He has lived in St Ann’s for 25 years. He said: “The only shop I go to round here is the One Stop. I’d look in I.C Discounts sometimes too but there’s nothing here or there’s certainly nowhere for all age groups to go like a sit-in restaurant, a café or a pub. St Ann’s isn’t the place you go to for a day or out or anything like that, not like how you can go to Bridgford or Arnold - places that can survive shops closing."
I.C.Discounts closed in March 2022 after trading for over 28 years. Still, the sign for the store is there but the building is vacant.
Zana Ali is the owner of Notts Barberz in St Bartholomews Road, which has been open for around three months.
Zana said: “It’s good here, it’s quiet, I use the shop next door or I go into town when I need something. The area needs a big shop here like Aldi or Lidl, those shops are quite far.” Neighbours to Zana’s business are a nail salon and cornershop.
Margaret West, 59 is now retired. Margaret has lived in St Ann’s all her life.
She said: “There are places to go but it isn’t what people want. I remember when Wells Road was packed with pubs, Heron used to be a pub and now they’re all gone and you ask anyone. The pubs were packed.”
Margaret continued: “There needs to be more and there’s space for it, St Ann’s needs to be refurbished and more appealing that might urge people to start a business here and do something with The Chase for goodness sake. I'd love a highstreet where I could browse."
READ MORE:
Nottingham shoppers desperate to see improvements to rejuvenate city centre
Shoppers concerned for Nottingham high street with 'worrying' amount of empty units
Inside Nottingham city centre cafe which looks 'completely different' after one-day revamp
New beauty salon comes to 'vibrant' Beeston where high street footfall is 'booming'
'Fantastic' new deli opens in Sherwood with plans to create cafe
